Who are you goin' to call.

[avandonk]

I was just wondering at 4AM this morning if we saw or photographed what we think is a new comet or an unidentified asteroid etc, who and under what circumstances do we contact to to notify or get a confirmation? What resources are available on line to do initial checking so there is not a flood of false alarms sent to already busy experts.

Bert

[MuntiNZ]

This is the guy you call I think mate.

http://www.iau.org/administration/membership/individual/2061/

[DavidU]

Good luck with it Bert.

[astroron]

Birt go to this site and follow the instructions:thumbsup:
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/CometDiscovery.html

[PeterM]

Hi Bert,

A very good question indeed. The likelihood of an unknown comet or even more so an asteroid in the images you and others are now taking is something to be prepared for. A good friend of mine Jim Riffle, spent several months imaging various deep sky objects from Leyburn in Qld some years ago and in the process discovered 2 previously unknown asteroids. As a result of this they are now with the IAU awaiting their approval for names that Jim has proposed. The discoverer is given this privilege but it still has to go to the IAU for approval.

Interestingly there are restrictions, if the proposed name is of a person, and that person was a political or military leader then they cannot have an asteroid named after them until they have been deceased for 100 years, see -
http://www.iau.org/public/naming/

Further, the first 7 characters cannot be be the same as an asteroid already named to avoid confusion.

Jim's proposal for his favourite Aussie brew, Tooheys Old, would be unacceptable. I will let the forum know of the 2 names when approved.

Anyway back to the question, say for an asteroid.

First check for any known asteroid in the area.
http://scully.cfa.harvard.edu/~cgi/CheckMP

If not then check on what is required in a discovery report.
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/HowToReportDiscovery.html

And some general advice.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/comets/3306581.html
http://www.permanent.com/a-catalo.htm

Now what to name your upcoming discovery? Avandonk, IceInSpace, MikeSalway? all would fit nicely.

PeterM.